The Florida Bar history

The first major federal legislation to attract the Section’s interest was the Internal Revenue Code of 1954.

On February 10, 1956, The Florida Bar Foundation was incorporated, and an application filed for exemption under Section 501(c)(3) as a charitable corporation.

In 1966-7 the Tax Section was chaired by Stephen T. Dean who, prior to relocating to Florida, as Chair of the Philadelphia Bar Tax Section presented its views on pending legislation to the appropriate Committees of Congress. It was also during the 1960’s that the Section began mixing entertainment with meetings.

1961 Based on 1961 reincorporation and amended “purposes,” Foundation obtains 501(c)(3) public charity status from the Internal Revenue Service.

A statewide fund-raising campaign to build and equip a building for The Florida Bar began in 1964.

In 1966-7 the Tax Section was chaired by Stephen T. Dean who, prior to relocating to Florida, as Chair of the Philadelphia Bar Tax Section presented its views on pending legislation to the appropriate Committees of Congress.

Also, during the 70’s the first attempt to prepare a history of the Section was initiated by James Wershow (Chair 1967-68), whose materials have played a great part in this report.

Again, the membership responded with funding and in October 1976 the new addition was dedicated.

Troutman invited the Tax Section to draft a pilot certification plan. As a result of the Section’s continuous outspoken criticism of the Designation Plan, then Florida Bar President Russell Troutman, at the request of Joel Sharp (the Section’s liaison with the Board of Governors), spoke at the meeting of the Executive Council in the summer of 1977.

The Tax Section plan, along with the Trial Lawyers Section plan, was submitted to the Board of Governors of the Bar in early 1978.

During the 1980’s, the Section ventured into new substantive areas of federal tax law and had significant impact upon the resulting legislation and regulations.

1981 Florida Supreme Court implements the first in the nation Interest on Trust Accounts Program and names the Foundation as administrator.

In April, 1982, the Section awarded the first annual award to the lawyer making the greatest contribution to the practice of tax law in Florida.

1983 First IOTA grants awarded for law student assistance following Florida Supreme Court’s approval to use IOTA funds for law student scholarships.

The Section leadership, having fully realized the implications of the Tax Reform Act of 1986, initiated further restructuring of the Section to better address the ever evolving needs of tax practitioners in Florida.

1987 Tampa woman files Federal Constitutional challenge to Florida’s IOTA program.

The Section also entertained its first contested election with Les Barnett (Chair 1988-89) outpacing challenger Bob Panoff.

During the decade of the ‘90’s, the Section’s Annual Tax Moot Court (initiated in 1989) continued to grow in stature and now attracts competition teams from 16 universities across the country.

Larry Gragg (Chair 1991-92) noted that the Section made a concerted effort during this decade to improve its relationship with the Board of Governors and reassert its position as the tax lawyers to the Florida Bar.

By the time the Section celebrated its 40th anniversary in 1992, the Section membership had grown to greater than 1,900 members.

1993 Temple University legal needs study of Florida reflects only 22% of legal needs of poor being met with all sources of legal services funding.

Bob Panoff (Chair 1994-95) attributes this to the overthrow of “the politics of exclusion and began the process of converting to the politics of inclusion….. Everyone was welcome to participate.

1995 Foundation establishes biennial Steven M. Goldstein award in recognition of Goldstein’s commitment and contributions to high-quality impact legal representation of the poor.

The following is a passage from the minutes of the 1997 organizational meeting:

1998 United States Supreme Court rules that interest earned on nominal or short-term client funds is the private property of clients.

1999 Fundraising feasibility study completed.

Additionally, Richard Josepher and Marvin Gutter (Chair 2000-01) on behalf of the Section successfully obtained an I.R.S. ruling on the partnership tax status of the new Florida limited liability company.

The Section renewed its emphasis on certification, taking the position that “certification is an obligation of our profession.” Significantly, in 2001, laptop testing was available for the first time for those taking the certification exam.

2002 Florida Access to Civil Legal Assistance Act signed into law as a result of vision and leadership of then Florida Bar president Terry Russell.

2004 Kids Deserve Justice Specialty License Plate benefitting the Foundation’s Children’s Legal Services grant program approved by Florida Legislature under leadership of then Florida Bar President Kelly Overstreet Johnson.

Project revised formally in 2005 to reflect goals of focusing on large law firms and bar sections as well as corporate counsel offices.

2006 The Foundation allocates $2 million for purchase of the LegalServer statewide case management system (CMS) for allFoundation general support grantees.

2007 Foundation-commissioned report, The Quest for the Best: Attorney Recruitment and Retention: Challenges for Florida Civil Legal Aid.

The 2008-09 year saw even more globe-trotting, when the Section also held a meeting in New York.

The restructuring effort was headed by Guy Whitesman (Chair 2010-11), serving as co-chair of the Federal Tax Division and chair of the Tax Certification Committee of the Board of Legal Specialization and Education of the Florida Bar.

2011 Law Student Assistance grants are suspended beginning with the 2011-12 grant year due to IOTA revenue shortfall.

2012 The Paul Doyle Children’s Advocacy Award is established, at the suggestion of the Foundation’s Children’s Legal Services grantees, honoring Paul C. Doyle, in honor of his commitment to high quality legal representation of Florida’s low-income children.

2013 Melissa A. Pershing, J. D., is hired as Director of Legal Assistance for the Poor/Law Student Assistance grants, and ultimately as Deputy Director and Chief Program Officer.

2014 Jane Curran retires after 32 years and is named Executive Director Emeritus.

2015 Foundation begins to draw on investment income from The Florida Bar Foundation Endowment Trust and Florida Bar loan proceeds to supplement IOTA revenue in order to fund grant programs.

© 2016 The Florida Bar Foundation.

2017 Jane E. Curran, The Florida Bar Foundation’s founding executive director, and John F. Harkness, Jr., the 37-year executive director of The Florida Bar, receive the Medal of Honor.